The construction industry has significantly recovered from the 2020 recession. It appears digital technology will continue to produce multiple headwinds shaping the future success of the industry. This year, construction industry professionals in the USA are poised to capture growth opportunities if they can mitigate and adapt burgeoning construction trends as core business competencies.
New Construction Materials
Materials like self-healing concrete, transparent aluminum, flexible aluminum, and biofoam contribute towards sustainability, reducing long-term environmental costs. These materials embody a lower carbon footprint, and when utilized, maximize a building’s eco-friendly credentials because they use less water and are often easier to maintain.
3D Printing
Despite its infancy, this technology has made it possible to build a 3D-printed home in less than 24 hours. With a market expected to hit $56.4 million this year, 3D printing has transformed from a buzzword to a technological force shaping construction future trends.
3D printing offers the following advantages:
- Reduces costs: 3D printing can decrease construction waste by 60% and increase production time by 70%.
- Scalable: One square meter of the wall using traditional construction methods is roughly $75, whereas 3D printing can be as little as $27.
- Sustainable: Some house 3D printers use solar energy, and thus, generate lower CO2 emissions.
- Design flexibility: 3D printers can easily create unique facades and curved walls for mass production.
Automation and Robotics
Automation technology construction trends in the US will continue to offer meaningful benefits allowing teams to work remotely, more productivity and more efficiently, and with greater safety with smaller groups. Remote operation, heavy lifting, and repetitive tasks are key areas where automation and technology are making headway.
With the construction industry facing increased environmental regulation and the need for cost-effective buildings, automation and robotics can improve quality and consistency. For instance, demolition robots make it safer, cheaper, and faster to demolish concrete and structural components than hiring a crew. As construction companies look to automate more tasks, the demand and integration of robotics will continue to grow.
Digital Transformation
According to consulting firm McKinsey, progressive construction companies are adopting digitalization to provide intuitive tools allowing for effective collaboration to keep projects on track and budget. Due to the pandemic, prominent construction market trends have experienced a surge in remote project management tools.
These technologies will optimize the sector’s efficiency and help address the urgent housing shortage crisis. It’s estimated that by 2025, large-scale digitization will lead to annual cost savings between 13%—21% in design, engineering, and construction phases and about 10% -17% in the operations phase. A digital transformation is no longer an option, but a critical step to ensure industry-wide sustainability.
Modularity
By 2030, 15-20% of new building construction will be modular. Modularization and offsite prefabrication are recent adoption trends on the rise in the construction market. These construction technology trends enable off-site builds of consistent quality while reducing construction time by as much as 50%.
This reduces massive amounts of waste and site disruption during the building process. Investors and property developers are turning to this technology to rapidly build factories and other key installations for their businesses. It’s no wonder this year, the global modular construction market size is predicted to surpass $84.4 billion.
Drones
Year on year, the construction industry has experienced a 239% increase in drone usage. Its data collecting and aerial perspective capabilities allow safe, remote monitoring of construction sites. In particular, drone imagery, whether video or photos, can help construction companies track progress and provide real-time updates. Its visual aids also facilitate better information exchanges between construction companies and their clients.
A Declining Workforce
By 2030, the construction industry is expected to undergo a skills shortage crisis, largely due to the introduction of robotics and the decline in crew size wrought by automation. While construction industry technology trends are shaking up the labor force, it is not a complete loss, as new jobs will replace the old.
Companies that cultivate new skill sets in robotics and automation can mitigate job decline. Attracting younger workers through digital transformation, automating repetitive tasks to lower reporting burdens for on-site workers, and using better tools for intercompany collaboration can stabilize the workforce and lead to more skilled employees.
Conclusion
The construction industry is always subject to rapidly changing labor markets and construction cost trends that fluctuate due to supply and demand. However, long-term predictions indicate the growth of a greener and more efficient industry.
If you’re thinking of remodeling your home or building from scratch, then we can help. At Zenith Design + Build, we strive to keep abreast of all current trends in the construction industry to provide our clients with the most up-to-date building materials and technologies. Contact us to discuss your project.
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